Yarmouth Notes, 1830-1872. Collated from the File of the Norwich MercuryPalmer, Frederick Danby
History
Yarmouth Notes, 1830-1872. Collated from the File of the Norwich Mercury
Palmer, Frederick Danby
Great Yarmouth (England) -- History
The fleet and the officers and men from it who came ashore during the
day have been closely scrutinized and gazed at, parties having been
on board the flagship, it became a question of interest as to what
they would do at night. At sunset a gun was fired from the Admiral’s
ship, at the sound of which, as if by magic, the flags dropped from
the stern of every vessel at the same instant, though the topyards
did not go down as was expected. That was about half-past eight
o’clock, and at nine bang went another gun from the Admiral’s ship
followed by the rattle of musketry on board the others, and seamen
said, ‘There’s the old Admiral a-fallen down the main hatchway,’ that
being the correct nautical form of indicating that the hands were
ordered to ‘turn in.’ At about the same time lights were shown in
front and at the sterns of the ships, producing a brilliant and
lively spectacle, taken in conjunction with the hundreds of lights on
small craft lying at anchor, and as shown by the screw colliers which
were ever and anon passing through the fleet and flowing out dark
volumes of smoke. With Saturday Mr. Swann’s contract to supply beef
at 4½d. per lb., luckily for him, expired, and he agreed, we believe,
to execute the orders of the fleet at 6½d.
Sunday morning, as had been anticipated by the Yarmouth innkeepers
and others, brought an immense number of people into the town, the
trains from Norwich being very lengthy. The weather was fine, and as
the fleet still remained in the Roads, there was every prospect of
enjoyment. As the excursionists came into the town they proceeded,
after refreshing the inner man at the earliest opportunity, either to
the beach or on board the three steamers of Fill and Co. (Chesapeake,
Volunteer and Florence Nightingale), which were ready, as soon as
filled, to start for a journey round the fleet. The Chesapeake was
the first to start, and as she steamed down the harbour the
excursionists had a good view of the quays and shipping, and also of
the hamlet of Gorleston. As soon as the bar was crossed, the great
ships were all plainly visible, their sides bristling with guns, and
alive with seamen, who, on the visitors approaching, exchanged a few
friendly shouts with them. From the middle of the two lines in which
they were moored, the ships had a noble and awe-inspiring effect upon
those who had not before seen such wonders of the sea—they were, in
fact, so many towers of strength filled with dauntless warriors. The
Mersey, the smartest, the swiftest, and most powerful frigate of the
fleet, was greatly admired, as was also the Royal Albert, and many
thought—
“How proud must be our Admiral
Of such a bonny barque.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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